Additional Services for HIV+ Patients

Case Management / Social Services

CrescentCare offers case management to any individual receiving medical care at a CresentCare site. In addition, CrescentCare offers case management to individuals not receiving medical at CrescentCare if the individual has an HIV diagnosis. Case managers provide coordination of medications, medical care, health insurance (including assistance with insurance costs!), and chronic disease management, access to transportation, and referral to a number of other services including food access, financial assistance, housing, peer counseling, health education, behavioral health, legal, and more. The primary goal is to work with the client and medical provider to help the client improve his or her health status and to improve his or her ability to increase independence.

Case management services are available at all three clinic locations during regular business hours Monday – Friday (appointments can be made during non-traditional hours): CrescentCare Specialty Center (2601 Tulane Ave.), CrescentCare FACES & Family Care Services Center (4640 S. Carrollton Ave.), and CrescentCare Health and Wellness Center (3308 Tulane Ave.). Individuals are encouraged to make an appointment with a case manager for the fastest service, but walk-ins are welcome at all locations. Case management services are also available in the Houma/Thibodaux area at Exchange Support Services (958) 223-4017 or 1-888-834-8323.

Benefits Coordination

CrescentCare offers benefits coordination to individuals living with HIV. Benefit coordination services are intended assist individuals in gaining access to programs like SNAP, Social Security, and health insurance should complications arise in the routine application process. Benefits coordination is available during regular business hours Monday – Friday (appointments can be made during non-traditional hours) at CrescentCare Specialty Center (2601 Tulane Ave.).

Medication Assistance

CrescentCare also operates a drug reimbursement program to help cover the cost of approved pharmaceuticals and medications for HIV+ persons living in the New Orleans who have no other payment source.

Housing

CrescentCare provides several types of housing assistance to low-income HIV patients and other homeless individuals to help them maintain a stable living situation and facilitate engagement in medical care. Case managers work with patients to determine the appropriate housing assistance which can include short term rent, mortgage, utility assistance, tenant based rental assistance, permanent housing placement, and emergency assistance. CrescentCare operates housing programs in New Orleans and Houma.

Food and Nutrition

CrescentCare’s Food For Friends program provides home delivered meals to home bound HIV+ clients. In 2015 volunteers and staff delivered over 30,000 meals to 94 medically home bound individuals. CrescentCare also operates a Food Bank program. Clients are able to come to the food bank once a month to select two 20 pound bags filled with groceries, personal care items, and household items. Over 185,000 pounds of groceries were distributed to over 800 individuals in 2015. CrescentCare also provides education/counseling for nutrition needs, development and provision of individual nutritional care plans and counseling in health promotion, disease progression and disease prevention.

Legal

CrescentCare provides legal advice and services to HIV + individuals on legal matters related to their HIV status. Legal services are offered in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge and include legal assistance with discrimination in employment and housing, public benefits, estate planning, consumer protection, access to care, and financial coaching.

Other Support Services

Other support services offered to HIV patients include transportation assistance, substance abuse services, psycho-social support services, and treatment adherence services.

Get in Touch

NO/AIDS Task Force d.b.a. CrescentCare is a Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b, and a deemed Public Health Service employer under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n). CrescentCare has Federal Public Health Service (PHS) deemed status with respect to certain health or health related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals. CrescentCare’s three clinical sites are FTCA Deemed Facilities.